Folding sleepimg cot e



G. HQBLAKE.

FOLDING SLEEPING COT ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1920.

1,372,117, Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

WITNESS IN VEN TOR [CZ-'7' %/nja M 7361 By wMw 73% W A TTORNEYS G. H. BLAKE. FOLDING SLEEPING COT ESPECIALLY ADAPIED FOB AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR- I, 1920.

A m m U W. 3 W L W4: Q M

L WW 2. mm m3 W w M w M3 V. D B m m A TTORNE YS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. BLAKE, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

Application filed April 1, 1920. Serial No. 370,382.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. Beans, a citizen of the United States, residnig at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Sleeping-Cots Especially Adapted for Automobiles, of which the followlng 1s a sp ecification.

My invention relates to foldmgsleepmg cots especially adapted to be carried, when folded, upon automobiles.

The objects of my invention are: first, to provide a substantial but light cot which may be used as a bed entirely independent of the automobile upon which it is carried; and second, to so construct such a cot that it can be folded into proper size to be carried upon an automobile, and when so folded and secured to the automobile, that t can be used, in connection with the runnlng board, as a luggage carrier. By this construction I am enabled to make a cot of sufficient size and strength for two persons to he upon with comfort, and which can be quickly andeasily folded, to occupy comparatively little space.

With these objects in view my invention will now be more fully described with ref erence to the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein I have shown a single cot adapted for the use of one person only. It is to be understood, however, that by merely increasing the lateral dimensions of its parts, the cot may be adapted for occupancy by two persons. In said draw1ngs:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my cot, reduced in size, folded and secured.to the running board of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a partly broken plan of the same, in extended position, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a partly broken side elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partly broken plan view show ing my cot partly folded.

Fig. 5 is a partly broken side elevation showing my cot partly folded as in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of my cot extended.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation showm my cot folded and attached to the running card of an automobile.

Fig. 8 is a partly broken side elevation, enlarged, of one end portion of my cot, extended.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented M ar. 22, 1921.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the main frame of my cot, which is preferably constructed of angle iron, and

bent into the form of a rectangle.

Inside this frame is stretched a fabric 2, Figs. 11. and 2, of articulated wires or other suitable material. connected with said frame at its edges by springs 23 in the usual manner. The frame 1 is divided longitudinally at its'center, as shown at 4, Figs. 2 and 4, and the two halves are pivotally connected by pins or rivets 5, Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8.

The frame 1 is adapted to be supported, when extended, upon legs 6 and 7 The legs 6 of which there are preferably three on each side, are pivotally secured to the side members of the frame at 8, Figs. 2, 3' and 8,

and are adapted to fold up toward and lie parallelwith said frame side members, as shown in Fig. 5. The legs 7 are located one at each end, and are pivotally secured to the hinge pins 5 of the frame, as shown in Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8. All of said legs 6 and 7 are preferably formed of angle iron.

The side legs 6 are held in extended posi- 'tion by diagonal braces 9, Figs. 3, 5, and 8 which are pivotally connected with the side frame members at 10, and are adapted to hook over pins 11 projecting from said legs 6. Said braces 9, when unhooked from the legs 6, fold up into the angle of the frame 1 as shown in Fig. 5.

The end legs 7 are permanently connected by a longitudinal bar 12, Figs. 2, 3, 4-, 5 and 8, preferably formed of angle iron, and ex tending the entire length of the cot at a suflicient distance below the bed-fabric 2 to permit the latter to have free play. Permanent diagonal braces 13 extend between said bar 12 and the upper portions of the end legs 7 The end legs '7 are further braced to the end portions of the frame l. by diagonal braces ll, Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. These braces 14- are arranged in pairs, one pair being situated at each end of the frame 1. Each member of the pair is pivotally connected with the end. portion of the frame 1 at 15, and the two members are pivotally connected together at 16, but are entirely free from the end leg 7 except when the frame 1 is fully extended, in. which position the angle of the V formed by said braces bears against a stop pin 17, and locks under the head thereof, as shown particularly in Fig. 6. When the frame 1 is folded, the diagonal braces 14;

automatically move downward away from? the pin 17, and occupy the position shown' in Fig. 7, the end leg 7 lying parallel with and between the end portions of the frame 1 The central longitudinal bar 12 is secured endsof the cot by means of braces 18, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8, pivotally connected with said bar at 19', Figs. 2. and 5, and adapt-ed and is firmly held by said hooks. to the four side legs 6'located nearest theta; 7

above the pivot pins 5, are adapted to be engether by a bolt 31. Any desired. number of said hooks 28 may be secured to the edge of the running board. 'l he inner side portion of the frame it of the folded cot rests upon Eyes 32, formed in the upper ends of the end legs T,

aged by hooks 33, secured to the ends of straps 34, Big. 1, which may be fastened in to hook over pins 2G, Figs. 2 and 8, projectany desired manner to convenient parts of ing from said le s 6. When unhooked from said legs, the braces 18 are adapted to swing horizontally to lie parallel with the bar as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Said braces 18 have no vertical movement, the spring of the metal being sufficient to allow their ends to be hooked upon the pins 20.

The longitudinal bar 12 is further liiraced, to the central pair of side legs 6, by means of a transverse bar 21, Figs. 2, 3, 4t. 5

Said transverse bar 21 is pivotally connected at itscenter 22, with the longitudinal bar 12,.and its ends are adapted to be hookedl overpins 23, Fig. 2, projecting from thelj central pair ofside legs 6 .the spring of the various parts being sufficient to permit sucl connection. Vhen the ends of said trans verse bar 21' are unhooked, the bar may be swung horizontally, about its central pivot 22 to lie parallel with the longitudinal bar 12, as shown in Figs. d and 5.

,Diagonal braces2 i, Figs. 2, 6 and 8 are pivotally connected at 25, with. the central pair of side legsfi, near their upper ends. and are adapted to be hooked over pins 26, Figs. 2 and 6, projecting fromthe trans verse bar 21. When unhooked from said bar, said braces 24 may be swung parallel with said legs 6. it short leg 27, Figs. 3, 5 and 8, is permanently secured to the central portion of the longitudinal bar 12 for supporting the same.

In order to fold the cot, the transverse braces 18 and 21 are first swung parallel with the longitudinal bar 12; the side legs (3 and their braces 9 are then folded to lie against the side portions of the frame 1; and finally the two side portions of the frame 1 are folded together, to occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 7. 1

It will be seen that the cot, when extended. is amply supported bythe legs 6, '7 and 27. andis so braced by the various diagonal and other members as to be perfectly rigid, and yet may be easily and quickly folded to such a size as to be readily carried about, or stored in a small space.

F or'at-taching the folded cot to an auto mobile, as shown in Figs. 1. and 7, I pro ivide hooks, one of which is shown at 28, Fig.

y and 6, preferably formed of angle iron.

f fabric 2 will not bulge outwardly under the lateral pressure of the luggage carried bethe automobile body The folded cot therefore rests in a position substantially parallel with the automobile body and extending up ardly from the outer edge of the running-brand 2 as shown in Fig. 1 The space between the cot and the automobile body may then be conveniently used for the reception and carrying of lug- "111- t11'.11,.;i 1-. gage. 1 1c .(illg'l ulna mi 12 or the cot, not shown 111 Fig. 1, forms a rigid support throughout its entire length, so that the bed tween it and the automobile bod v 35.

hen itis desired to remove the cot from the automobile, the straps 3i and hooks 38 are first freed from the cot, and it is then swung outwardly and downwardly, this movement automatically pei'niittin its lower edge to be lifted from the running-board books 28; or if it is desirml to extend the cot upon its removal from the automobile,

the outer half of the frame 1 is first swuna' upwardly into its extended position. thus giving convenient access to the legs and braces, which are then extended and adjusted; and finally the straps 3d; and hooks are released, and the fully extended cot is lowered on to its legs and lifted off the running-board hooks 28.

I claim l. folding cot comprising a substantially rectangular frame divided into two portions; :2 yieldable bed fabric supported by said frame; hing .l joints bet.'-.'een the two portions of said line whereby said two portions may be folded together: a plurality of side legs piiotallv connected with said frame and adapted to be folded to lie parallel therewith: a pair of end lesrs. pivotally connected with said frame at the hinged joints thereof; and a pair of dineronal braces positioned at each end of the frame, the members of each pair being pivotally connected with said fl ie on each side of the hinged joint thereof. and said members being pivotally connected together and enun'ably associated with the end leg. 2. A folding cot comprising a substantially rectangular frame divided longitudinally into two portions; :1 yieldable bed fabric supported by said frame; hinged joints between the two portions of said frame whereby said two portions may be folded together; side legs pivotally conlu l Lin

lid

nected with said frame and adapted to be folded to lie parallel therewith; a pair of end legs, pivotally connected with said frame at the hinged joints thereof; and a longitudinal member extending between and rigidly connecting said end legs.

3. it folding cot comprising a substantially rectangular frame divided longitudinally into two portions; a yieldable bed fabric supported by said frame; hinged joints between the two portions of said frame whereby said two portions may be folded together; side legs pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to be folded to lie parallel therewith; a pair of end legs, pivotally connected with said frame at the hinged joints thereof; a longitudinal. member extending between and rigidly connecting said end legs, and fold: able braces extending between said longi tudinal member and said side legs.

4. A folding cot comprising a substantially rectangular frame divided longitudinally into two portions; a yieldable bed fabric supported by said frame; hinged joints between the two portions of said frame whereby said two portions may be folded together; side legs pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to be folded to lie parallel therewith; a pair of end legs, pivotally connected with said frame at the hinged joints thereof; a longitudinal member extending between and permanently connecting said end legs, foldable transverse braces extending between said longitudinal member and said side legs;

and foldable diagonal braces extending between the frame and said side legs.

5. A folding cot comprising a substantially rectangular frame divided longitudinally into two portions; a yieldable bed fabric supported by said frame; hinged joints between the two portions of said frame whereby said two portions may be folded together; side legs pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to be folded to lie parallel therewith; a pair of end legs, pivotally connected with said frame at the hinged oints thereof; a longitudinal member extending between and permanently connecting said end legs, foldable transverse braces extending between said longitudinal member and said side legs; and a pair of diagonal braces positioned at each end of the frame, the members of each pair being pivotally connected with said frame on each side of the hinged joint thereof and said members being pivotally connected together and removably associated with the end leg.

6. A folding cot especially adapted for separable connection with the running board of an automobile, comprising a substantially rectangular frame divided longitudinally into two portions adapted to be folded parallel with each other; a yieldable bed fabric supported by said frame; legs for supporting said frame; a hook permanently connected with the automobile running board, said hook being adapted to freely receive one longitudinal side member of said frame when the latter occupies a substantially horizontal position, and to engage and retain said side member to prevent separation thereof from said book when the frame occupies a substantially vertical position; and means for retaining said frame in a substantially vertical position.

.. 7. A folding cot especially adapted for separable connection with the runningboard of an automobile comprising a substantially rectangular frame having a side member with a profile of greater height than width; a bed fabric carried by said "frame; a hook permanently mounted upon the automobile running-board, said hook having its open side uppermost and being adapted to freely receive the said frame side members when the frame occupies a substantially horizontal position, and to engage and retain said side member to prevent separation thereof from said hook when the frame occupies a substantially vertical position; and means for retaining said frame in a substantially vertical position.

8. A folding cot especially adapted for separable connection with the runningboard of an automobile, comprising a substantially rectangular frame formed of angle iron; a bed fabric carried by said frame; a hook permanently mounted upon the automobile iunningboard, said hook having its open side uppermost and being adapted to freely receive one side member of said frame when the frame occupies a substantially horizontal position, and to engage and retain said side member to pre vent separation thereof from said hook when the frame occupies a substantially vertical position; and means for retaining said frame in a substantially vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE H. BLAKE. 

